Vehicle propeller-actuating mechanism.



R. C. SAYER.

VEHICLE PROPELLER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1411912.

Patnted 001;. 12, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- FIG Aifarnegcs COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-IWASHINUTON. b. c,

R. c. SAYER.

VEHICLE PROPELLER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-14, 19l2.

Patented 001. 12, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG-2 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, Dv c.

R. C. SAYER.

VEHICLE PROPELLER ACTUA'HNG MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Aue. I4. 1912.

1,156,712. Patented 001.12, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

A V IIIIII4 fiadayer R. C. SAYER.

VEHICLE PROPELLER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 14. I9I2.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

lnue r1701 CULUMIIA PLANOGRAPM c0.. WASHINGTON. n.-

UNHED RQBERT COOKIE SAYER, 0F REDLAND, BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

VEHICLE rimrELLEn-Acr A'r-ING' MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 12, 1915;,

Application filed August 14, 1912. Serial No. 715,090.

hicle Propeller-Actuating Mechanism, of'

which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto propeller actuating mechanism more particularly'intended for use in connection with aerial and marine propulsion, and has for its object to enable propellers to be employed for driving and steering at any angle, also to enablethe propellers to be adjusted vertically to varying height-s relatively to the body vesselor vehicle driven thereby so that in the case of a body or vessel traveling on water the head of pressure of deep water fmay be utilized to increase the efficiency of the propellers.

With the above objects in View the invention comprises broadly a hanging bearing member, a propeller mounted to rotate in the lower end of the bearing member, a vertical guide for the bearing-member, means for moving the bearing member vertically upward and downward in the guide, means for rotating the propeller about a horizon-v tal axis and means for rotating the bearing member about a vertical axis.

In a practical form ofthe invention, the vertical guide aforesaid consists of a tubular member which is preferably fixed vertically upon the body or vehicle and the hanging bearing member comprises a hollow shaft or tube mounted to slide telescopically in the tubular guide member ELIlCl'DI'OVldBd,

externally with annular teeth. One or more pinions mesh with the annular teeth on the hanging bearing member and are earned on shafts supported on bearings onthe guide member, one of which shafts also carries a worm wheel in gear with a worm spindle or shaft adaptedto be operated by hand to raise, or lower, or rigidly hold the adjustable hanging bearing member and its attachments at varying vertical heights.

A wormwheel mounted to rotate between hearings on the lower end of the fixed guide tube surrounds the hanging bearing member and has an internal vertical keyor'keys,

of a length to span two or more ofthe annular teeth-of the said member and of sufficient radial projection to pass into notches in the annular teeth; so that a worm carried on a shaft in bearingson the fixed tubular gulde when turned by a handle, will turn the worm wheel and its keys, and thus ro-' tate the'hanging bearing member and its attachments about a vertical axis. When actuated vertically, the bearing member slides freely in the worm wheel which surroundsfit, the worm wheel being prevented from moving endwise by the bearings between which it is mounted. V

When the hanging bearing member is rotated the propeller isj'carried around with it, and in order to impart a further rotary motion to the propeller about its own aXis, a telescopic ,shaftis mounted to rotate in the hanging bearing member through which it extendsfrom theupper to the lower end thereof and is geared with the propeller shaft through spur and worm gear, suitable gear being also provided for actuating the said telescopic shaft.- 7

The invention is hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in. which, 5

Figure lis a sectional elevation through the vertical shafts andguides taken at AA Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken at BB Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken at C-C Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a half sectional plan of the slide guide when fixed on'a side or end of a vehicle, taken at DD Fig; 1; Fig. 5 is a section on line EE of Fig. '1 Fig. 6

is a section taken at FF Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is girders 3 of the vehicle or the body 1 which is to be propelled.

The hollow shaft or tube 45 with annular;

teeth 5 which forms part of the hanging bearing member of the propeller telescopes with sliding contact within the tubular guide 2 'being actuated vertically through pinions 6 which mesh with the teeth 5 and are mountedon parallel shafts 7 supported in bearings 9 on the tubular guide-2. The

.shafts 7 are geared together'by spur gear wheels 8 which mesh with each otherand are actuated by a worm wheel 10 on one of the shafts meshing with a worm '11 controlled by a handle 12. The tubular guide 2 has-bearings- 13. arranged to support and position a worm wheel 14 in gear with a.

2 is suspended vertically from the floor or 9 Worm 15 on a shaft 16 mounted in bearings 17 on the tubular guide 2. The wheel 14: has keys 18 adapted to slide in notches 19 in the teeth 5 of the shaft 4, so that when a hand wheel 20 and the worm 15 are turned the wheel 14 meshing with said worm 15 and the keys 18 are also turned thereby turning the tube 1- about its axis. Mounted in the tube l and co-axially therewith is a telescopic shaft consisting of a hollow shaft 21 and a solid shaft 36 capable of sliding inside same but pr vented from rotating independently by a suitable key and groove connection.

"he hollow shaft 21 is supported on a ball bearing 22 at its upper end and is guided at its lower end by a horizontal wall 23 through which it passes. A pinion 2i fixed on the lower end of the shaft-'21 meshes with a spur wheel 25 on a shaft 26 mounted in bearings 27 in a casing 28 secured to the tube 4. The shaft 26 carries a worm 29 which meshes with and rotates a worm wheel 30 fixed to a horizontal shaft 31 on which are fixed the propellers to receive like mo tion at any angle when. actuated by a hand ,wheel 32 on a shaft mounted in bearings 33 on the fixed guide member 2. A sprocket gear or pinion 34 is fixed to the hand wheel shaft and a sprocket chain 35 passes over said gear 31;, sheaves 34 on the floor 3 and a gear 3i" fixed to the shaft 86 passing down within and keyed to the tubular part 21 of the telescopic shaft and whereby the pro pellers receive rotary motion about their axes. The propellers shown are of the type in which propulsion is effected by the reaction of explosions and are represented by chambers 8-7 on each side of the shaft 4, (see Figs. 5 and 6) in which gases are exploded, andillared outlets 38 from which the gases escape to act on the medium, traversed by the body or vehicle, either water or air.

Fig. 7 also shows means for supporting or staying thehanging bearing member in a well in the vehicle 1, said support consisting of a sleeve or collar 38 embracing the hanging bearing member and a frame 39 connected to the collar 38 at one end and provided at the other end with friction wheels lO, all that run in fixed guide members 42 upon the vehicle, so that the sta frame partakes of the movement of the hanging bearing tube 4 when this tube is adjusted vertically as hereinbefore described. Space is provided for the propellers in all positions to free every obstruction as shown enlarged by Fig. 1.

Vhen it is desired to drive the vehicle 1 by screw propellers a pair of telescopic shafts such as 21, 36 are driven by a suitable motor and geared by bevel gearing with the propeller shafts.

Instead of explosion or screw propellers other propellers of the type which rotate in the direction of driving may be employed, these propellers being geared in any suit able manner to a telescopic driving shaft or shafts as described.

1 claim as my invention 1. The combination with body, vehicle or the like of propelling and steering apparatus comprising a tubular guide member lixed vertically on the body or vehicle, a hanging bearing member comprising a tube mounted to slide telescopically in the tubular guide and provided with annular teeth, pinions mounted on the fixed tubular guide and meshing with the teeth on the bearing member, means for actuating the pinions to raise and lower the bearing member in the guide member, means for rotating the toothed bearing member about a vertical axis, a casing on the lower end of the toothed bearing member, a pinion and gear in said casing, a horizontal shaft extending on each side of said tooth d tube bearing member and actuated by said pinion and gear, propelle s fixed on said shaft, a telescopic shaft within the bearing member and geared to said horizontal. shaft and means to turn said shaft and the propellers about their axes.

The combination with a body, vehicle or the like of pro selling and steering apparatus comprising a tubular guide member fixed verticallv on. the body or vehicle, a hangin bearing memb r comprising a tube 11" united to slide telescopically in the tubular guide and provided with annular teeth, pinions mounted onthe fixed tubular guide and meshing with the teeth on the bearing member, means for actuating the pinions to raise and lower thebearing member in the guide member, a worm wheel mounted concentric to the toothed tube of the bearing member, a sliding key and groove connection between the worm wheel and toothed tube, means to rotate both about a vertical axis, propelling means mounted to rotate in the lower endof. the bearingmcmber and means extending through the bearing member for rotating the propelling means about hori Zontal axis, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT COGKE SAYER.

Vfitnesses E. El". BUssELL, E. TYLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. "Washington, in. G. 

